Stack-fastener



(No Model.)-

W. L. MURDY. STACK FASTBNBR..

Patented Aug; 27. 1889.

IIVI/E/VTOH ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM L. MURDY, OF ALBIA, KANSAS.

STACK-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,857, dated August27, 1889.

Application filed June 14, 1888. Serial No. 277,052- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. MURDY, of Albia, in the county of VVashington and State of Kansas, have invented a new and improvedStack-Fastener, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to a stack-fastener, and has for its object toprevent hay in bulk or in stacks from being scattered or destroyed andlost through the force of winds, storms, and gales, as frequentlyoccurs, and wherein should the stack lean to one side it may be readilyand effectually straightened.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar figures of reference indicatecorresponding'parts in both the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stack having my improvementattached, and Fig. 2 is an end View of the device detached. Fig. 3 showsthe apertured plate and a separate weight suspended therefrom, a rope 13being passed through one aperture and knotted to show one way ofsecuring the rope to the plate.

In carrying out the invention I preferably build a stack 10 in the formillustrated-that is, of greater length than width-but I desire itunderstood that I do not confine myself to this exact form.

In further carrying out the invention I pro vide a series of stakes 11,which stakes are preferably made to taper in the direction of theirlower ends and are provided with apertures 12 near their upper ends.These stakes are adapted for insertion in the stack and are preferablyarranged in a series of three parallel lines, as best shown in-Fig. 1,any number of stakes being utilized to form a line. These several linesare located one centrally and longitudinally of the stack at the top andone at each side of and adjacent to the top; but if in practice it befound desirable auxiliary lines may be added below the outer linesillustrated, in which case a greater number of ropes will have to beused and plates having a sufficient number of apertures be employed. Thestakes having been placed in position, a rope 13 is passed through theapertures of each line of stakes, the extremities of the ropes beingallowed to hang down at the ends of the stack.

A weight 14 is suspendedfrom the ends of the several ropes at each endof the stack by means of an apertured plate 15, which may be castintegral with the weight, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or formed separatetherefrom, as shown in Fig. In either case an apertured weightsuspendingand rope-connecting plate is formed. The stakes not only hold theropesin place, but they prevent the outer layers of hay from being blown offor sliding from the stack. If one side of the stack should lean, tostraighten the same it is simply necessary to shorten the rope upon theopposite side, whereupon the weight is carried away from the leaningside and the stack gradually straightens itself, and when straight theweight assumes a perpendicular position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A staclcfastener comprising two plates 15, each having a series ofapertures, stakes or pins adapted to be thrust into the stack and havingeyes at their outer ends, and ropes to be thrown over the stack, passedthrough said eyes, and secured attheir ends to said plates,substantially as set forth.

2. A stack-fastener comprising two or more series of steadyingstakesadapted to be thrust into the stack, having eyes or apertures at theirouter ends, a rope passing through the eyes of each series, said ropesbeing all connected at their opposite ends to a single weight suspendedthereby at each end of the stack, substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM L. MURDY.

Witnesses:

D. W. RICHARDSON, JACOB BLooHs.

